Thread: How do I become more creative and wittier when speaking/writing

I have a hard time responding to people without being platitudinous. I don't know. I feel like my sentences are awkward. I have a hard time using better vocabulary and I feel like I could a little, it's just that I haven't thought of the better word for expressing my thoughts. I don't have a social life so that could be part of it. Would reading more help? What authors would you recommend to me?

btw, is this paragraph awkward? lol

Hi Madoka, and welcome to WF.

Originally Posted by Madoka

I have a hard time responding to people without being platitudinous. I don't know. I feel like my sentences are awkward. I have a hard time using better vocabulary and I feel like I could a little, it's just that I haven't thought of the better word for expressing my thoughts. I don't have a social life so that could be part of it.

You probably need to get out more; talk to people, and listen to people - all sorts of people. You can also develop your skills and find your writing voice by correspondence; in the old days*, that meant "pen pals" - now, it tends to mean social networks and forums.

*ie, last century.

Would reading more help?

Reading more always helps, if only to expose you to the diversity of our language and the many ways any idea can be expressed. When reading, don't be afraid to look up a word or phrase you haven't encountered before.

Watching and listening also help, not just movies or plays or speeches; real people in real settings, familiar or exotic.

Writing helps. Again, don't be afraid to look up a word you haven't used before; make sure it means what you want it to mean.

What authors would you recommend to me?

I wouldn't. I know neither your interests, nor your experience as a reader. I would instead recommend that you find the books that you think you might be interested in, and read them. If you like one, read it again, twice; if you don't like one, make a note to yourself about why you don't like it. Over time, you'll find which authors work for you.

Whilst I'm in a recommending mood, and addressing the title of your post: two more things you can do to help you become more creative and wittier when speaking/writing are to join a speakers club (the local Toastmasters or equivalent) and/or to join a drama club. Either or both would build your confidence, and help you to understand and develop your voice (written and verbal), timing and emphasis.

btw, is this paragraph awkward? lol

It is, but that's not about using a better vocabulary; it's about trying to use a vocabulary that's unfamiliar to you. It's also about some dodgy grammar, but that's not important right now. The most common mistake new writers make is trying to impress experienced readers by using complicated and unfamiliar words and sentence structures - it always backfires.

Moxie*, more than mannerisms, make a good speaker and a good writer.

*well that, and a friendly editor.

Your paragraph didn't seem much more awkward than a lot of the crap I read on the interwebs (although admittedly the interwebs is not very high-quality to begin with).

Anyway, ditto to the above poster. If you're serious about improving your talking/writing skills, you need to talk and write more. Go out and get a social life, for one. Human interaction has many more benefits than people believe. These benefits go beyond just improving your talking skills, btw.

To improve your writing/reading/talking/whole outlook on life, READ! Reading can open you up to a whole myriad of new experiences and as the above poster said can demonstrate new ways to say old things, or old ways to express new things, etc. Reading is by far one of the most underappreciated activities on earth.

Good luck on your quest .

It really comes down to being yourself. If you're a witty person, your writing will be witty. If you're a serious person, your writing will be serious. Or do you want to know to write a witty character? My advise would be: go talk to a witty person you know and study what they say, when they say it, etc.